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Dutch vocal improvisor Jaap Blonk returns to Roulette with a newly-commissioned composition, Polyphtong, and a tour de force performance of Kurt Schwitters’ foundational work of early sound poetry, Ursonate.

Commissioned by Stanford University, Polyphtong is a showcase of Blonk’s extensive techniques on solo voice. Blonk creates an astonishing range of vocalizations, from dipthongs to his own “cheek synthesizer,” and processes these sounds through a 4-channel mixer, thereby conjuring spatial and temporal layers. Written in the 1920s, Schwitters’ Ursonate proceeds along the structure of classical sonata, in four movements, but with an invented language as its sound material. A stereo CD recording of Polyphtong will be released in September on Elegua Records.

Jaap Blonk (born 1953 in Woerden, Holland) is a self-taught composer, performer and poet. Besides working as a soloist as vocalist and on electronics, Blonk has collaborated with many musicians and ensembles in the field of contemporary and improvised music, such as Maja Ratkje, Mats Gustafsson, Joan La Barbara, The Ex, the Netherlands Wind Ensemble and the Ebony Band. Blonk premiered several compositions by the German composer Carola Bauckholt, including a piece for voice and orchestra; a solo voice piece was commissioned by the Donaueschinger Musiktage 2002; and several collaborations with the computer-based visual artist Golan Levin. Blonk has also produced work for radio and television, includes several commissioned radio plays. His record label, Kontrans, consists of a total of 17 releases so far and other Blonk recordings have appeared on Staalplaat, Basta, VICTO, Ecstatic Peace and Monotype. In 2012, Traces of Speech, a book with an accompanying CD, was published by Hybriden-Verlag, Berlin. jaapblonk.com

About Roulette

Roulette – one of New York City’s premiere venues for experimental music for over 33 years – has reopened bigger and better than ever. Located in a newly renovated 1920s Art Deco concert hall in Downtown Brooklyn, the new Roulette features two levels of seating for up to 400 people (600 standing), an expanded multi-channel sound system, projection screen for film and multi-media events, state-of-the-art lighting system, modular stage, and a specially designed floor to accommodate dance. Teamed with bold new programming, the new Roulette promises to be one of the most exciting places in New York City – if not the country – to experience adventurous music and art.

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This entry was posted on Monday, October 7th, 2013 at 4:47 pm and is filed under Concert Announcement. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.